GVSS AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER

Assisting Grimes area folks to stay in their home since February 19, 2011!

Grimes Volunteer Support Services Newsletter

AUGUST 2024

Mission Statement-To provide, without charge, needed services to individuals in the Grimes area assisting them to remain in their homes.

President's Report

Hello from Mike at GVSS!

It's incredible how time flies, and here we are already in August, a month filled with excitement for the State Fair and Back-to-School season.

Fall is just around the corner, and it's fantastic to see more people utilizing our services as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Let's take a moment to express our gratitude to the dedicated volunteers who make everything possible. Your driver plays a crucial role, so don't forget to show your appreciation.

A big shoutout to all our volunteers for their outstanding efforts in supporting the residents of Grimes to age in place comfortably.

Check out our newsletter for a glimpse into the hard work and impact we've had over the past few months.

If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to us at 515-986-5355.

Here's to a fantastic month ahead for all of us!

Mike Bleskacek

GVSS President

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

The Polk County Supervisors have recently made a generous donation to GVSS, and we would like to express our gratitude for their continued financial support. Our President, Mike Bleskacek, and County Supervisor, Robert Brownell, are pictured together in appreciation of this contribution.

Thanks to this support, we are able to continue providing valuable services to the residents of Grimes.

We extend a special thank you to Supervisor Brownell for his unwavering support over the past several years. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors, as he will not be seeking reelection.

We are grateful for the Polk County Supervisors' commitment to our organization, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to better serve our community.

We are seeking drivers to transport local residents to medical and various appointments.

You don't need to be retired to volunteer. Many of our volunteers are employed but still dedicate time to assist at GVSS.

If you're interested in volunteering as a driver, please reach out to us at 404 SE 2nd St or call 515-986-5355.

An application can also be downloaded from our website: www.GrimesVss.com.

GVSS COORDINATORS

Mike Bleskacek, 55+

515-491-8294

Wanda Armstrong, Appreciation

515-661-8282

Dale Thompson Snow & Lawn Service

715-781-5076

Your name could appear here, DME Coordinator.

Thank You, Corporate Sponsors

Please tell them thanks for supporting GVSS!

Supportive Heroes

($1,000 +)

Polk County Betterment

Gabus Automotive Group

Sammons Institutional Group

OPUS Foundation

City of Grimes

Midwest Heritage Bank

Black Hills Energy

Golden Rule

Bankers Trust

Community Choice

Harvest Bible Chapel

Total Family Eye Care

State Farm Insurance – Andrea Sabus

Supportive Partners

($500 - $999.99)

Kennybrook Village

MS Moments

Racoon Valley Bank

Supportive Friends

($250 - $499.99)

BDI SIGNS

Community Greetings

Grove & Platt Dental

McAllisters Deli

Supportive

Neighbors

($100-$249.99)

Assumption Women’s Club

Godfather's Pizza

Grimes Lions Club

Mid Iowa Subway

Miller Fidler & Hinke

Presbyterian Women

Serenity Massage

St. Peter Lutheran Church

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WHO DONATED TO GVSS IN 2023:

Wanda Armstrong, Linda Becker

Denise Bell, Jodi & Kathy Bermel

Bickford Family, Mike & Eileen Bleskacek

Jay Brewer, Kristi Brokaw

Irene Buddenberg Trust

Jamie Bunn & Kaaren Olesen

Vicky Burch, Don & Drue Cavanaugh

Vickie Cook, Richard Craig

Ryleah & Alex Cross

Leann Dawson, Tim Dempsey

Ron Engstrom, Rosemary Gould

King Arthur Goulet, Quentin Greenough

Dorothy Greif, April & Steve Gross

Nathan & Alicia Gross,

Charlotte Hanus, Lee Harris

Jane Hartnett & Donald Piegors

Monte & Teresa Heeren

Terry & Michelle Hicks

Marie Hutcheson, Cynthia Kreklau

Kennybrook Townhome Association

Janice Kubovich, Marsha Larson

Bill & Rene Lego, Tom & Mary Letsch

Richard Lindgren, Paul Narva

Ron & Sheila Oolman

John & Katelyn Oolman

Gloria Perry, Larry & Gayle Peters

Randy & Jeanne Peters, Lisha Steffey

Roger & Mary VandenBranden

Elizabeth VanZomeren

Kristine Voorhees

Karen Vroman, Don & Ruth Wallace

Alicia Watkins, Myron & Arlis Werley

2024

GVSS BOARD MEMBERS

AND OFFICERS

Dale Thompson 715-781-5076

Drue Cavanaugh 515-490-4967

Gloria Perry, Financial Secretary

515-681-2861

Jane Hartnett 563-608-5817

Loree Herman 316-312-8802

Nicholas Lees 919-239-3147

Tim Dempsey 515-306-0009

BobbiJo Wolfe, Treasurer

515-480-6270

Tim Dempsey, Secretary

515-306-0009

Wanda Armstrong, Vice President

515-661-8282

Mike Bleskacek, President

515-491-8294

me.bleskacel@gmail.com

GVSS STATISTICS

June Report:

Drivers - 33, Trips - 225, Repair/Maintenance - 5, Yard- 20. Total Volunteers - 41, 2621 miles driven - and - 67 hours provided of service and organizing and administering the programs.

July Report: Drivers - 37, Trips - 324, Total Volunteers - 41, 3409 miles driven; 81 hours provided of service and organizing and administering the programs.

DAILY MEALS FOR SENIORS

All seniors are invited to congregate meals served daily at the Grimes Senior Center at 410 SE Main St. in the Grimes Community Complex. The Senior Center is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and lunch is served at 11:30 p.m.

For reservations, please call 986-5747 by noon the day before - and by noon Friday for a Monday meal. No fees for meals for those 60 and over; however, donations are accepted and appreciated.

Come for the food, friends and fun!

Need to borrow a piece of equipment?

Give GVSS a call!

When you have need of a piece of durable medical equipment, please give us a call. If we have what you need in stock, we'll be happy to loan it to you without charge for as long as you may need it.

We have crutches, walkers, canes, shower chairs and benches, quad canes, manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, bath scales, elevated toilet seats, bed rails, toilet safety rails, and power lift recliners.

GVSS will clean, repair (if necessary), inventory, maintain and provide at no charge, loan of equipment to our clients who have a need. If you have equipment you'd like to donate, give us a call. We can schedule a time for you to bring it to the office or we'll come and pick it up.

Thanks for your support!

GVSS Office Hours

Come talk to us in person between 9:30 and 11:30 AM, Monday, Wednesday or Friday or call and make an appointment.

We are located at 404 SE 2nd Street, Suite 100 in the Grimes Governors District.

GVSS has been providing services to Grimes area residents since February 2011. Since then we have provided more than 23,872 trips, driven over 306,065 miles and contributed over 48,853 hours of service to organize and provide assistance to residents of the community.

GVSS has over 210 clients and over 60 volunteers on our rosters.

For more information regarding GVSS, go to our web site:

www.grimesvss.com

Home visits can be arranged by calling 515-986-5355

info@grimesvss.com

GVSS is an Active and Proud member of the Grimes Chamber and Economic Development

Grimes Storehouse

112 NE Ewing St, Ste B

515-986-4191

E-Mail: thegrimesstorehouse@gmail.com

HOURS

Tuesdays & Thursdays - 9:30 am - 11:30 am

1st and 2nd Tuesday of each month

5:30 - 7:00 pm

While donating non-perishable food items is always valuable and appreciated, providing monetary donations can maximize the impact of your generosity compared to purchasing food items to donate.

Visit our website

Get In Touch

404 SE 2nd Street, Suite 100

Grimes, IA 50111

515-986-5355

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